JAMMU, May 30: At least 10 people were killed and 63 injured after a bus they were traveling in skidded off a bridge and fell into a gorge near Jhajjar Kotli area of Jammu District. Four persons were critically injured and are undergoing treatment at Government Medical College and Hospital-Jammu
The bus, which met with this tragic accident at 5:30 am, was on its way to Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi, from Amritsar.
“All those travelling in the bus were related to each other and were going to Mata Vaishno Devi for performing the Mundan ceremony,” SHO Jhajjar Kotli, Azad Manhas told Rising Kashmir, while adding, “ten people died in the accident, while 63 were injured”.
The Police, with the help of locals, SDRF and the CRPF personnel, immediately started the rescue operation and shifted all the injured to the Government Medical College and Hospital-Jammu for treatment.
Most of the people were sleeping when the accident took place. All the injured are undergoing treatment in the GMC-Jammu.
Medical Superintendent (MS), Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu (GMC&H-J), Dr Narinder Singh Bhutyal said that four persons were critically injured in the accident are admitted in the ICU.
“Sixty-nine people were brought here in the GMC,” the Medical Superintendent, GMC-Jammu, informed Rising Kashmir, while adding, “nine were brought dead, while one person succumbed to his injuries during treatment”.
He said 59 people are undergoing treatment in GMC in various wards of the hospital. Four people are critical and are undergoing treatment in the ICU, the Medical Superintendent further said.
Meanwhile, the Police have registered a case and started an investigation. “We were sleeping and suddenly heard a big noise and experienced big jerks,” one of the injured said adding, “Except this we don’t remember anything”.
It is too early to say what exactly was the reason behind the accident, the SHO said. The bodies of the deceased are yet to be shifted to their homes as postmortem and other formalities are yet to be completed.
Meanwhile, the DGP, DIlbag Singh visited the GMC and met with the accident victims. “We are trying to provide the best possible care to the injured,” the DGP said after meeting the injured people.
LG announces ex-gratia for next of kin of deceased
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in a tragic bus accident today in Jammu and Rs. 50,000 each for those seriously injured. He has directed the district administration to take care of the treatment and provide all assistance to the bereaved families.
